Executive Director's Report to Council 23/02/01

A succinct summary of activities this year is:

• return from break (Jan 15)
• prepare to move into new offices
• don't move into new offices (Feb 1)
• prepare for Strategic Planning Session
• Strategic Planning Session (Feb 5-6)
• Administration Manager on Family Leave (Feb 8-9)
• Executive Assistant departs (Feb 9)
• prepare to move into new offices
• don't move into new offices (Feb 15)
• move out of old offices (Feb 15)
• operate from 'cyberspace' offices (Feb 15)
• new Technical Manager starts (Feb 19)
• prepare for Council Meeting

This is not to say that plenty of work hasn't been done, it has. However, everything achieved has been within the above framework and that has added stress.

Submission to Law and Order Select Committee

I wrote the Executive Summary and a covering letter, did minimal editing to the Submission, made the required 20 copies and couriered everything off to Parliament on Feb 9. I confirm that our Oral Submission takes place on March 15 from 10:00-10:30 and that we share the slot with the Law Society. Peter Dengate Thrush and Ewen McNeill are confirmed as presenters, and the Council needs to confirm one other today so that I can inform the Committee Secretary.

Media

Ongoing interaction with the Media has taken place over the period. I made formal complaints on behalf of the Society to IDG re the breach with the draft Submission reporting. I made a release on the Submission once it was presented to Parliament and have had to walk a careful line re confidentially and privilege. I trust that the level of media interest that we've received since its release will be followed up after we can publicise the Submission after March 15.

I also drafted a release on the .bank.nz proposal and this awaits the results of today's meeting before it goes out. Another release (drafted by the Internet Surveillance Working Group) on filtering software will be released shortly and I have one in the works regarding our new Technical Manager.

New Website

The Executive Assistant, Gail Cornell, has completed her project of updating the website. I'm sure that you will be pleased with the ease of finding material on the site - I know that I am, and I have been using it to find documents for a fortnight now. Gail put a lot of extra work into this project, in part because she was on a steep learning curve, but also because she wanted the Society to have the very best that she could produce. She took the line that we should have a fresh, simple, and friendly site, and I believe that you will agree that that has been achieved.

Cr Harris, who mentored Gail's work, suggests that Council be given a chance to 'test' the new site before it goes live when we move into the new premises. I'd appreciate a vote of thanks being recorded to Cr Harris for the extra time he put in on this project.

Gail's contract finished at the end of this project, and she left to return to England this morning. Gail asked that I pass her goodbyes on to the whole Council and express for her how interesting she had found the experience of working for the Society. I'd appreciate a vote of thanks being recorded to Gail Cornell for the extra time she put in on this project.

New Technical Manager

We have been fortunate to gain the services of John Vorstermans, former Technical Manager of Actrix Networks, as our new Technical Manager. John will be working on a part-time basis of twenty hours per week. I attach the role description. John has already spent time with Cr Zanetti being briefed on the new system which Cr Zanetti has created for the new offices.

Internet Code of Practice

As a result of the letter we sent out with the Minister's letter to all ISP's in December, we have had three new signatories (Attica Communications Ltd, V-Net Ltd, and Watchdog Corporation Ltd). The next stage of publicity is starting to be planned.

Networking

As a result of various networking activities we are being approached by organisations to either consider working together to leverage our lobbying strengths or to endorse other activities. I have not had time to follow up on most of these, so will report via email and/or at the next meeting. One which has come to fruition is the invitation to the GOVIS conference for myself and two Councilors, and an invitation to ISOCNZ members to attend the workshops.

Conclusion

I am looking forward to moving into the new premises and also to once again having a full staff. A reminder that the Open Day is set for March 22 - the day before the next Council meeting. I'm not sending the invitations out until we've actually moved in however!

Sue Leader
Executive Director

© 2001 The Internet Society of New Zealand
Last updated 26 February 2001